Bell, Steven. "[http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/home/890580-264/outsourcing_or_partnerships__from.html.csp Outsourcing or Partnerships? | From the Bell Tower - Academic libraries have largely been unaffected by the outsourcing of services to private entities seen in the public library sphere, but what if that trend catches on in higher education?]" Library Journal, May 12, 2011.

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[http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ron-dubberly-becomes-president-of-lssi-121658973.html Ron Dubberly Becomes President of LSSI: Library industry leader is promoted to President of the company]. PRNewswire, May 11, 2011.

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Morris, David. "[http://www.yesmagazine.org/happiness/the-public-library-manifesto The Public Library Manifesto: Why libraries matter, and how we can save them.]" YES! Magazine ([http://www.yesmagazine.org/about About YES!]), May 6, 2011.

The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors is exploring with the city of Stockton the potential benefits of privatizing their jointly owned public libraries, using Library Systems & Services LLC, of Germantown, Md., which refers to itself as LSSI. Two leaders of the opposition to the move -- Vince Perrin, president of the Friends of the Stockton Public Library, and Colleen Foster, retired director of the Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library, talk with CVBT about their concerns. Please click on the play arrow below to watch.

Two proposals are in to take over administration and operation of the Manske Library in Farmers Branch. One comes from Danita Barber, the current head librarian at the Mankse on Webb Chapel Road. The second comes from Library Systems & Services, LLC., a Germantown, Maryland-based firm that was founded in 1981. The potential outsourcing of the library has kicked up plenty of controversy in Farmers Branch over spending priorities and the role of government in a sagging economy. City officials have said they can save about $290,000 by outsourcing or privatizing. But many citizens have protested a privatization or outsourcing move, saying the administration of the library should be retained. Others have suggested shorter hours and work furloughs for library staff--measures instituted by the city of Dallas. Bruce Crozier, a library board member, says a decision shouldn't be made "purely" on dollars. A decision is expected in November.

On Sept. 28, the League of Women Voters hosted a combined forum for candidates for Ann Arbor District Library board . . . Five of the seven candidates attended the forum . . . The forum took place at Community Television Network studios and was recorded – it is available online through CTN's video-on-demand service. The hour-long event was moderated by Nancy Schewe, and questions covered a broad range of library-related topics. . . (including) Privatization of Libraries -- Question: A private company in Maryland has taken over public libraries in many cities in California, Oregon, Tennessee and Texas. What's your opinion about privatizing libraries? Do you foresee privatizing any library services – and if so, what?

After major public outcry, including a community fundraising drive, the Board of Supervisors of Nevada County, CA, unanimously voted November 23 to reject outsourcing the Nevada County Library to Library Systems & Services, LLC (LSSI). They modified the recommendation of County Executive Officer Rick Haffey, who followed the lead of two committees and County Librarian Mary Ann Trygg.
While that proposal would reduce staff hours without layoffs, in anticipation of better times, the plan adopted includes layoffs and a loss of 3.75 FTE positions. (The county economy relies significantly on tourism, and the sales tax supporting the library is off by $400,000.)

After receiving a petition signed by nearly 700 residents, the Board of County Commissioners in Hernando County, FL, unanimously tabled a proposal to consider privatizing the management of the Hernando County Public Library to outsourcing vendor Library Systems & Services LLC (LSSI).

According to Hernando Today, county officials were skeptical about LSSI's plans to save $500,000 a year running the six library branches, especially since unionized public employees transferring to the private sector would cost the county some $250,000 in accrued benefits.

2007

It's official: The reopening of the shuttered 15-branch Jackson County (Oreg.) Library Services began October 24, thanks to the county commission's approval in September of a management outsourcing contract with Maryland-based Library Systems and Services (LSSI). LSSI will receive just over $2.2 million for the remainder of FY2007-08 and planned to hire up to 60 workers to staff the system, which used to employ 100 people. Branch operating hours per week will range from eight to 24.

The first two branches to reopen were the central library in Medford and the Ashland branch, with the rest expected to begin reinstating services at the end of October. Ashland residents had approved a levy to reopen its branch facility's doors by November 1, the week before the LSSI contract was signed. Local support, coupled with Jackson County's contribution, is enabling the Ashland branch to maintain a 40-hour week service instead of the 24 hours proposed by LSSI, while the Talent branch was poised to make a 36-hour-per-week comeback because of a monthly utility surcharge of $1.25-$1.50 per household that city council members approved September 20. Other communities are exploring similar options to expand service hours, according to the October 9 Medford Mail-Tribune.

County funds come from a one-year emergency renewal of a $23-million federal timber subsidy with which many county departments are financed. "This is a temporary fix," said Susan Huntley, spokesperson for the grassroots Coalition for Libraries' Future, in the October 8 Tribune. "We're looking at how we can create a long-term funding solution."

Conference Abstract: Deanna Britton, Director of the Collierville Burch Library, moderates a panel discussion in which representatives of the Wolf River Library Consortium present their views of outsourcing and discuss their experiences in working with Library Systems and Services (LSSI), based in Germantown, MD. After individual presentations, the panel will take questions from the audience.

Reprinted with permission from the October 2005 issue of Public Management (PM) magazine published by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), Washington, D.C.